Dream Trips 2018: If Money Were No Object, Where Would You Go?

Have you ever imagined yourself traveling around the world for one or two years? Or going on a cruise to Antarctica and around the southern hemisphere or staying in a luxurious African safari resort where you can gaze out to the watering hole? Imagine doing all these without breaking the bank or going into debt.

As we approach 2018, I thought it would be fun to tackle this question just like Trippy user Jillian Greer did a few year ago:

If money were no object, where would you go?
I love playing this game with my friends! So here it goes, and the rules are simple:
Money doesn't matter. Where would you go, and what would you do there?

There are plenty of vacation options out there. To help you dream up a trip and possibly make it happen, we have rounded up 20 dream trips you can take in 2018:

1. Antarctica

One destination that came to mind is Antarctica. To take this trip would require about a month of my time and cost over $30,000. So, if money were no object, I’d fly to Ushuaia and join a Silversea 19-day cruise aboard Silver Cloud Expedition to South Georgia, Drake Passage, Antarctic South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Sound, and Peninsula.

I’m not the only one dreaming of this trip. Trippy users Ryan Weiss, Katharina Boden, David Headley, Edward Hazlitt, Stef Poessel, and Jonny Duncan had Antarctica in their list of dream trips too.

2. Papua New Guinea

Trippy user, Jeanne Heydecker dream trip is to Papua New Guinea. She figured:

I'd head to Papua New Guinea right after one of the great highlander chiefs has died and a funeral is to start. The tough part is knowing when a funeral will occur because sometimes it can take months, sometimes years, to make all the arrangements. But once the date is announced, all the highland tribes gather, and ceremonies, both lyrical and fearful, commence. The men come in tremendous ceremonial garb, carried down from ancestors and constantly improved. Much of the dancing and ceremonies take the place of what used to be actual headhunting, so some of the activities can be quite frightening to outsiders. Headdresses made of the feathers from several different birds of paradise are a unique feature as well. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience and the last thing on my bucket list.

You won’t find a massive tourist crowd in Papua New Guinea, but if you fancy a trip there, you might want to check out Intrepid’s 9-Day Papua New Guinea National Mask Festival.

We just can't help but appreciate the craftmanship that goes into some of our festivals here in Papua New Guinea #VisitPNG pic.twitter.com/Ajt3zIsl3B

— Papua New Guinea (@visitPNG) December 7, 2017

3. Mauritius

Vicky Iskandar from Los Angeles wrote:

Mauritius has been calling me since I found out my grandmother had ancestry there. I'm still looking at ways to spend a month on the island to go deep into its multi-culture roots without being a tourist, as staying at a 5-star resort really puts a boundary between the visitors and the residents. If you have a lead, let me know!

Unlike Vicky, I wouldn't mind spending my sleeping and relaxation hours at a 5-star resort in Mauritius, especially after an almost 30-hour flight from Los Angeles to Mauritius.

Mauritius is a tropical island in the Indian Ocean and the place to enjoy the powder-white beaches and see the famous underwater waterfall, an optical illusion of the ocean.

4. Seychelles

Seychelles is an island nation consisting of 115 granite and coral islands in the western Indian Ocean. La Digue, Mahe and Praslin are three major tourist islands. Boat services are available for anyone looking to hop from island to island. The capital city of Seychelles, Victoria is in Mahe Island, the largest island in the country.

Kenn Agata said:

Seychelles has been a bucket list trip forever. The beaches and natural beauty are supposedly beyond compare. I want to touch a Coco de Mer!

5. Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow through Siberia to Ulaanbaatar and Beijing

Traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway was on the top of my travel bucket list and the mere mention of an opportunity to go made my heart skip a beat. However, after the unparalleled experience, I probably would only do it again if I took the Golden Eagle Luxury Trans-Siberian Silver Class private train. That is if I’m willing to pay $16,995 per person for 15 nights on board from Moscow to Vladivostok (flights not included).

Trippy user Katharina Borden from Hong Kong wrote:

Take a month or even longer and step on the Trans-Siberian train and follow the route from Moscow via Ulaanbaatar to Beijing with many stops in between. Since I was little my grandpa keeps telling me these adventurous stories about his trip to Mongolia in the 60s, and since then I always wanted to visit this country. And what better way to explore the vast countryside than on a train journey.

Mathilde Baillet from California had a similar desire:

As for me, I would travel from Saint Petersburg (Russia) to Ulaanbaatar with the Trans-Mongolian.

Winter time. To make it even more authentic, and avoid the crowd. Sharing vodka and playing cards with merchants from everywhere, stepping out at Lake Baikal to fish and ski on the lake. And stepping out again and again, in all the amazing places along the railroad, those I don't even know yet the existence! Go horseback riding in the Mongol tundra, share locals' lifestyle for a while, live with them in a yurt. Woow I'm getting excited again!! Let's work hard to make it happen in the near future! Nice one :)

Read 10 Train Journeys to Know Before You Book Your Next Trip to find out the difference between Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian Railway.

6. Bora Bora

Bora Bora is one of the most sought-after tropical paradise islands in the world. It’s also notoriously expensive. One night stay at a One-Bedroom Beachfront Villa Estate at the luxurious Four Seasons Bora Bora is $4,465 per room during the low season, not including VAT, resort fee, and Regional Polynesian Tax. The rate is much higher during the Christmas season.

Lydia Barber's dream is to visit Bora Bora during the Christmas holidays. She wrote:

Bora Bora, during Christmas, in the most beautiful over the water villa they have!!!!

7. Sydney

Trippy user Caroline Hauck said:

I will go back to Sydney the best place in the world! Sydney Harbour you will have a fantastic view of the Sydney Opera House also you can visit The Rocks and the Darling Harbour!

Give the gift your loved one will remember forever, with 360 degrees of Sydney wrapped up in a BridgeClimb Gift Certificate: https://t.co/B3pVyy3nia pic.twitter.com/WilU2qDpqe

— BridgeClimb Sydney (@bridgeclimb) December 9, 2017

8. Tokyo

Ryan Weiss listed Tokyo. He said:

Tokyo - I would love to experience the Japanese culture. Not just for the taste of the food but for the preparation they put into which looks so amazing.

If you’re wondering what there is to do in this city of 10 million people, Trippy user Andrew Chou who lives in Tokyo wrote:

Hi, I actually live in Tokyo and have had to plan out an itinerary for over 20 sets of visitors over the last 18 months. So here's my recommended itinerary for first-timers.
So I suggest:
1 day around Ginza / Tsukiji
• 1 day around Ueno / Asakusa / Shinjuku
• 1 day around Roppongi / Omotesando / Meiji-Jingu
• 1 day around Shibuya / Daikanyama

9. Maldives

Sarah Gonzalez from Phoenix would start a grand tour in the Maldives:

Since "money is no object," I'd start with spending a couple of weeks in The Maldives. In a private villa w/a pool, on the water. Swim in the crystal clear waters, with the beautiful tropical fish, lay by my private pool most of the day, dine at their "underwater" restaurant, and just enjoy island life. What's not to love? I mean, it's gorgeous! And those are just some of the reasons why the Maldives are at the top of my bucket list.

JR wrote:

I would make my destination the Maldives. From the pictures, it looks amazing.It has it all diving, snorkeling, surfing, and lounging. But the main reason is because it's disappearing. Rising ocean levels are likely to take out many of the 1,200 islands that make up the Maldives. The highest point in the country is only 7'10" above sea level, and average height is only 4'11". This beautiful place won't be here for much longer, so I'm going!

Irene Vargas chose the Maldives too:

If money were no object, I would start my world tour in the Maldives. I would stay in an over-water bungalow and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. There would be some snorkeling, sailing and relaxing done there.

10. Dubai

JR continued:

Then on to Dubai. Now I know some might think that's not that exotic, but if you're ever going to see Dubai, it should be on a no limit budget right? Check into the Royal Suite at the Burj Al Arab for a cool $8,000 per night?

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is a 7-star hotel, known as the most luxurious hotel in the world.

11. Switzerland

Russell Hann wants to stay a month in Switzerland:

A month in Switzerland. I'd take in the Montreaux Jazz Fest, visit the mountains in Zermatt, go to the Ticino region, visit winery's, visit Lucerne, Bern, Geneva, Zurich and enjoy the cuisine.

12. Socotra, Yemen

Socotra, a territory of Yemen is an isolated island in the northwest Indian Ocean. Known as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the unique dragon’s blood trees.

For additional information on the dragon blood trees read ‘Alien island’ of Socotra where the trees are 20 million years old.

If you’re wondering how to get to Socotra, read FoxNomad.com’s Is it possible to visit Socotra Island?

Our #BiosphereReserveOfTheDay is the Socotra Archipelago #Yemen 🇾🇪➡️https://t.co/oWNwlVdOBX @goSocotra @UNDPYEMEN @yemen @nationalyemen @SanaaaOnline pic.twitter.com/5OqnIF3b1j

— Man and Biosphere (@UNESCO_MAB) December 7, 2017

Victoria Ancheva from Riga, Latvia said:

Visiting Socotra, Yemen has been on my list for ages. Look at photos - breathtaking and unreal.

13. Fiji

Dean Stern from Delaware would go to Fiji. He said:

I would travel to Fiji to experience a true vacation on a beautiful island resort and experience the wonderful people that make that place a joy to visit. I would snorkel, water ski, jet skiing, laying in a bog hammock with my loved ones. Enjoying each other and the sunshine.

14. Kyoto

Anna Andreo from Italy said she’ll start her grand tour in Kyoto:

Kyoto and then I would make the Shikoku Pilgrimage, all the 88 temples of the island. To mark it, let's say I'd stay in Naruto, just because the name is dear to me :)
I'd visit Japan thoroughly, and then visit Bangkok.

15. World Cruise on P&O Cruise

Michelle Geaney said:

I would absolutely go on a P&Os circumnavigation of the world cruise. :)

With P&O Cruise you’ll sail around the world in 99 nights, beginning in Southampton, England. It’ll include 31 destinations in 23 countries and visit some of the world’s greatest cities and islands.

Picture these destinations: Aruba, Cabo San Lucas, Brisbane, Nagasaki (Japan), Singapore, Colombo (Sri Lanka). Muscat, Haifa, Madeira (Portugal), Panama Canal, San Francisco, Apia (Samoa), Hong Kong, Suez Canal, Honolulu, Sydney, Hoi An and Dubai.

16. All the national parks in the 50 states of United States

Kate Simmons from New Jersey:

If money and time were not object, I would travel the United States visiting all 50 states and all National Parks, Recreation Area and Monuments. I would travel all back roads... off the beaten path.

According to NPS, there are 417 national park sites in the United States including parks in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam.

17. Around the World

Molly S., Irene Vargas, Valerie Stimac and Katy Berman would take off for an around the world trip. Katy wrote:

I'd take a trip around the world and see everything I've ever longed to see! However, if I had to pick just one place, I'd choose the Great Wall of China. It's the only man-made structure that can be seen from space. It must be incredible! It's one of those places that, if I ever get there, I'll just stand there looking at the view and thinking, "I can't believe I'm actually here, at the Great Wall of China!" That's how I felt when I visited Machu Picchu (which was also on my 'bucket' list).

I did two around the world trips. One was when I was single. And another was with my husband and children. Our family’s around the world trip took us to Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, USA, Iceland, Russia, Mongolia, China (includes Hong Kong), Indonesia and New Zealand. The trip changed our lives, and if money is no object, I would do it again for the third time. My third around the world trip would include Africa and the Middle East.

18. Tour D'Afrique from Cairo to Capetown

Emily said:

I would do the Tour D'Afrique! An 11,000km bike ride from Cairo to Cape Town. Sadly it costs $15,000 but WHAT AN ADVENTURE! (Tour D'afrique Limited)

The Tour D’Afrique cycling tour covers Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Participants cycle 11,370 km starting from Cairo and ending in Cape Town.

19. Party time on a private jet around the world

Robson Cadore has the ultimate 12-month dream itinerary traveling around the globe in a private jet. His plan:

I would pack my private jet with friends and make 1 year party time around the globe!
January: BPM Festival in Playa del Carmen
February: Split time between Punta del Este & Rio de Janeiro
March: ULTRA Music Festival in Miami
April: Time Warp in Mannheim and Snowbombing in Майрхофен
May: Hit the opening parties in Ibiza
June: SONAR in Barcelona
July: Enjoy summer in Saint-Tropez, Ibiza and attend Tomorrowland in Boom
August: another busy month! Kazantip in Popivka ( or Georgia ...), SONUS Festival in Pag island & Burning Man in Black Rock Desert.
September: Closing parties in Ibiza
October: Amsterdam Dance Event in Amsterdam
November: Creamfields in Buenos Aires
December: Snow Globe in South Lake Tahoe
It's gonna be a tough year!

Douglas H. Everett, a British chemist, and writer quoted:

There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.

Don’t stop dreaming. Work out a plan to make your dream trips come true. Remember, Tom Bradley’s quote:

The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you!

Have a question about traveling around the world? Become a Trippy user. Get your pressing questions answered.

Article and photos by Claudia Looi